This is my fourth, and possibly final time taking part in the 10×10 challenge; I always said I would complete a full four seasons and … now I have! While I’ve enjoyed doing this challenge in previous seasons, I didn’t really this time. Why not? well I’ll delve into that later.
The scenario; you pick 10 items of clothing, including shoes, and wear only those items for the following ten days. You can freely add accessories like hats, scarves, gloves, bags, jewellery and tights, as needed. Because this was a winter round for me, I added tights every day, and scarves a few days too. Well, it was cold!
My selection; four tops, two skirts, one dress, one raincoat, a pair of hiking boots and my knee-high black leather boots. I made all items except for the two pairs of boots.
From L to R, each item is linked to its original construction post. The number in brackets after each item is the number of times I wore it during the 10 day period.
- raspberry tee, the Nettie pattern by Closet Case patterns… (3)
- navy blue merino tee, the Nettie by Closet Case patterns… (3)
- ivory twist top, from Pattern Magic… (2)
- forest green twist top, from Pattern Magic… (2)
- mustard corduroy skirt, self-drafted… (4)
- red mini skirt, the Jade skirt by Paprika patterns… (4)
- blue corduroy dress, V1316… (2)
- mustard raincoat, my own pattern… (10)
- black leather boots… (9)
- hiking boots… (10)
The outfits:
Thoughts?
Just as predicted, I found winter to be the most difficult season in which to do this challenge! To be fair; it’s been so dingy and very very wild, wet and stormy which is something that will always make me feel a bit miserable anyway. But as far as the challenge goes… well fashion is obviously one of my major passions and winter is that time when I really get into playing with layering and the mixing and matching of as much of my wardrobe as possible. I guess it’s the one of those tiny pleasures that takes my mind off the winter blahs. Sounds a bit pathetic, I know; but this round I just felt a little resentful, like I was needlessly depriving myself of something fun in my life.
I chose all my items fairly quickly and without putting much thought into it, all very easy wearing and I loved wearing them all. Even though a coupla pieces are new, namely my raincoat and my little ginger/mustard skirt; they’re all tried and true favourite winter silhouettes so I knew I’d be happy with every piece. I did really love my jewel/spicy colour scheme. Something sorta noteworthy to me is that my black leather boots are the only item that I’ve picked to be in two different capsule wardrobes… I also had them in my first, spring, 10×10. Hmmm, obviously they’re very very “me”!
I wore my raincoat every day – so happy and pleased with that thing!! – and even though the pictures don’t reflect it, I wore my hiking boots every day too! Where I walk Clara every day is a natural swamp during winter, and hiking boots are the best footwear option. Off topic, but I kinda giggle to myself whenever I remember how making shoes to cope with my daily walk during winter was the biggest source of angst to me during my Year of Handmade. I think that’s why I’m proudest of my knockabout walking shoes than I am of pretty much any other pair! Boy, I put those things through their paces. Shoes that can withstand my daily winter walk can fair dinkum withstand ANYTHING.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. So, I’ve completed four seasons of 10×10 now. Will I do this again? Probably not, but never say never! There are very few sewing peeps who get into this game, just one or two, or possibly three including me. So funny! I’m not sure why not. It is very nice and reassuring to know that the things I am making suit me and my lifestyle very well, and that they are capable of mixing and matching up acceptably too. The 10×10 experiment is a very good way to thoroughly test that they do, so it’s got that going for it. But…. I am reeeeeally looking forward to wearing something else tomorrow!! So much choice!!! Aaaaaaaagh!
